I hate the rabbit!

[Luv Bunnies]

So do all 4 of them get along together? Suzanne

My two little woodland bunnies are bonded. They might be brothers since they seemed to be about the same age when we got them. At the very least they're cousins since every rabbit in the colony was related in some way. They have always shared a cage and love each other. I love it when I walk by and they're snuggling or grooming each other. Such sweeties!

My older boy and girl bunnies are not bonded. We tried to bond them when we got the girl. She tried to make friends and showed the boy that she would be submissive by putting her head down in front of him. He started to groom her which we thought was a good sign. Then he bit her on the nose! We think he liked her, he just didn't know how to treat a pretty girl. After that, she didn't want anything else to do with him. I couldn't blame her. What girl wants to date a guy after he bites her on the nose? They have separate cages now. When she comes out to play, she goes up to his cage and they sniff each other and touch noses. I tried putting them together a few months ago to see if they were interested in being friends. He ran away and hid until she was safely back in her cage. They seem to be happy as singles so that's how they'll stay!

 

[Lehuaann]

Let's see, where to start...

Please keep trying to get the rabbit spayed. Have you contacted your local humane society? Ours has a clinic that spays and neuters all animals, including rabbits, before they can be adopted. They may be able to do it for you. Also, look up your nearest chapter of the House Rabbit Society. All of their rabbits are fixed and they should be able to recommend a competent vet. Spaying her will do two things: 1) It will greatly improve her behavior and litterbox habits. Without the hormones that drive her to perpetuate her species, she will be calmer and better behaved. 2) Spaying will most likely save her life and keep her from suffering through a painful illness. Up to 85% of non-spayed female rabbits will contract reproductive cancer by 4-5 years of age. It's painful for them and you probably won't even know she has it until she starts having seizures that will lead to her death. It's not a pretty sight and it's 100% preventable.

Many females are "cage protective" because they always have the instinct to protect their young whether they have a litter or not. My spayed female is incredibly sweet, but chases the little broom and tries to nip when I clean her cage. My solution is to take her out of the cage when I clean it. Either let her out to play or plop her in her carrier for a few minutes. We're both much happier that way.

If she's not using her litterbox well, gently retrain her while you're working on getting her an appointment to be spayed. Rabbits are very sensitive. If you're frustrated with her, she'll pick up on that and get frustrated with you.

Above all, please do not put her outside ever! Rabbits don't do well outside. There are many, many reasons that they should live indoors. The House Rabbit Society website is a good resource.

Finally, if you really don't like the rabbit and don't want her around, please give her to someone who will take good care of her. At 12, your son is old enough to pitch in and help. But any animal deserves to live in a home where it's wanted to appreciated.

Seems like I could glean a lot of rabbit knowledge from you.

Being a new bunny owner of 1 year (before, only dogs), I had no idea how much I could fall in love with such an amazing animal . Of course I'm still in the process of getting adjusted to their affections for baseboards, cords, etc...but honestly, it miniscule. I've had worse damage from dogs.

Like the OP's rabbit, my 6 mo old buck had been doing the whole spraying/marking/stomping thing and the outcome from neuter surgery has been wonderful - like flipping a lightswitch. Now I've got to get my girl done soon.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Like the OP's rabbit, my 6 mo old buck had been doing the whole spraying/marking/stomping thing and the outcome from neuter surgery has been wonderful - like flipping a lightswitch. Now I've got to get my girl done soon.

It really is like flipping a switch! When my little rescued twins were neutered, we were still fostering them. We dropped them at the rescue shelter for their neuter surgeries and picked them up a week later. When they left, they were these little pee-spraying, thumping, smelly teenage boys. When they came back, they were perfect little gentlemen. It can take up to a month for all of the hormones to leave their bodies after the spay/neuter surgery. But after a week they were so much nicer and better behaved. We were still planning to foster them at that point until they could find homes. But the little nuts kept reeling us in until I couldn't imagine letting anyone else have them. I sent in the adoption contract and fee and proclaimed, "These boys are mine!"

 

[bellebud]

The 2 people I know who had bunnies as pets had them litter box trained, no cages... they were literally like cats. They did have to watch for the bunnies eating electrical cords though, but that was their only issue.

good luck!

 

[Tina]

DS has a rabbit. She lives in a rabbit cage in his room. I cannot stand the rabbit. She poops and then flings it out of the cage. She pees out of the cage. She stomps and grunts if you don't give her treats. She bites me when I clean her cage.

Really? Spend you entire life in a cage in someone's bedroom and see how cranky you get! Bunnies are people too! Well, you know what I mean. Your bunny needs more care and love than you are giving her. If you don't like her, don't banish her to a another cage outside. Find someone who does want her and will care for her.

 

[The Orchid]

I don't know how somebody can say the words "hate" and "rabbit" in the same sentence! We have four and they are the sweetest creatures alive. I'd rather have a bunny than any other animal. I think the problem with your bunny is that she needs fixed. Also, how big is her cage? Do you let her out to play? Does she get a lot of attention or is she left to herself? Seriously...get her fixed and after a few weeks you'll find her to have a completely different personality.

 

[DisneyScraps]

You took on a pet and now you need to care for it properly.

Rabbits need to be spayed.

They are also able to use a litter box and should be let out in the house. They are quite smart.

That rabbit does not belong outside if you just train it, it will be a family pet.

The behavior you are talking about it from not bring spayed and probably being in a too small cage. A lot of people make that mistake. Rabbits need a large cage. One with different levels is ideal and they also like different textures so an idea cage will have a wood area, a piece of carpet and cage. They need lots of things to chew on.

I would take a deep breath, got the bunny spayed. Move it to the family room, open the cage door and let that sweet animal out. You will be surprised.

Lisa

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My brother's GF is on her second rabbit. Her first rabbit was Cadbury and she was a preschool teacher.

He went to work with her daily and had full run of the room. He was well trained and very sociable with the kids. He passed on and now she rescued a new rabbit.

He is still learning to trust her.

From what I can see the OP is treating a rabbit like a hamster and they are more like cats.

Cooping up a rabbit is not good for them.

 

[BrerMom]

The 2 people I know who had bunnies as pets had them litter box trained, no cages... they were literally like cats. They did have to watch for the bunnies eating electrical cords though, but that was their only issue.

good luck!

This was our experience, too.

 

[FireDancer]

Well OP, I had rabbit in Italy and it was delicious so if things don't get better there is always that.

 

[jamiesmom07]

WoW, it's amazing to me how a little venting can get a girl a whole lot of criticism.

The rabbit is in a cage that has three tiers. She has a litter box inside the cage and outside the cage. She wanders DS bedroom most evenings. She is well taken cared of, she has been to the vet. As I said in previous post, I cannot find a vet who will spay her, I have called the humane society-our local chapter won't even take rabbits. She is not stuffed in a cage and left to her own devices for days on end. She has a harness and is taken outside in the warm weather to enjoy the great outdoors.

I wouldn't just put her in a hutch outside and walk away, I would put her in the barn. I have had rabbits all of my life, OUTSIDE. This is the first house bunny we have had and therefore I am trying to adjust.

From the sounds of the posts I have received on this mistakenly posted thread it sounds like I'm a heinous rabbit killer. Give me a break people.